Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the Regional Trial Court in Angeles City. The warrant, dated May 8, was issued over non-bailable human trafficking charges.
“If he doesn’t [return], not only would he be evading an arrest order from Congress, he would also be defying a lawful order from a court,” Hontiveros stated on May 16. As a lawyer, Roque should understand the gravity of avoiding legal accountability, she added.
The senator, who led a legislative investigation into alleged illegal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), emphasized that the arrest order is a positive step in their campaign against POGO-related crimes.
The warrant also includes Cassandra Ong, identified as an incorporator of Whirlwind Corp. and authorized representative of the now-closed Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. Hontiveros described the Porac hub as one of the country’s “biggest scam compounds.”
Roque is accused of turning a blind eye to criminal activities allegedly linked to Lucky South 99, where he served as legal counsel. The House Quad Committee’s investigation found that Roque helped facilitate the renewal of the POGO’s license, a claim supported by the Department of Justice. Prosecutors allege that Roque’s involvement went beyond legal representation, directly connecting him to the controversial operations.
In his defense, Roque insisted that his role was limited to assisting Ong in settling financial obligations with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which oversees POGO licensing. Currently in the Netherlands, Roque is seeking political asylum while supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte in his case before the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, Ong is reportedly associated with former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor and Chinese national Alice Guo, through the POGO hub Zun Yuan Technology Inc. The investigation further revealed that Ong’s uncle, Duanren Wu, who is also facing an arrest warrant, served as an incorporator of Whirlwind Corp., which is believed to have ties with other questionable POGO financiers.
Hontiveros underscored that these interconnected personalities highlight the urgent need to hold accountable those involved in illegal activities. “These dubious personalities seem to be interconnected. This explains why it’s important to hold accountable those who are proven guilty,” she said.
The senator’s investigation into POGOs, which lasted 19 months from 2023 to 2024, exposed widespread human trafficking, corruption, and other criminal activities tied to the industry. This led to a nationwide ban on POGOs, announced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his third State of the Nation Address in 2024 and formalized through Executive Order No. 74.
